Dispensing machine for dispensing semi-solid food products

ABSTRACT

A dispensing machine is particularly intended for dispensing semi-solid products such as ice cream or frozen yogurt. The machine utilizes a container for the product which container is open at one end and is deformed to discharge the product by the application of a plunger to the opposite end. A sealing plate is releasably located in the open end of the container and the plate includes a discharge outlet for the product which leads to a discharge nozzle. The plunger is driven by a piston and cylinder device and the container, the plate and its housing is movable in and out to replace the container.

This invention relates to dispensing machines and in particular, but notexclusively, to dispensing machines for dispensing food products ofsolid, semi-solid or viscous form.

It has been proposed to dispense product from deformable containers inwhich the product has been packed, the product discharging from anoutlet at one end of the container when engaged by drive means at theopposite end of the container.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machineand container therefor.

According to one aspect of the invention a dispensing machine comprisesa deformable container open at one end and arranged to be engaged by aplunger at the opposite end, the container deforming upon engagement bythe plunger to reduce its internal volume, sealing means releasablysealable with the open end of the container and having at least oneoutlet for discharging product from within the container, a housing forthe container, drive means for moving the plunger towards the outlet,and a discharge nozzle communicating with the outlet.

In one arrangement the side walls of the container between the ends aredeformable during operation of the plunger and the open end of thecontainer is engageable with the sealing means which is in the form of asealing plate, releasable securing means being engageable with saidcontainer end to seal said end against the sealing means.

Conveniently the releasable securing means is in the form of a band orring located around the open end of the container and engageable againstthe sealing plate.

The container may be generally cylindrical and the open end has a sizeapproximating to the diameter of the cylinder and the generallycylindrical side walls of the container may be of corrugated form topermit deformation of the side walls in the longitudinal direction ofthe container.

Preferably the housing encloses the container in use and the containeris located generally horizontally within the housing. Conveniently thehousing is formed with an upper and a lower part and the housing islocated within an insulated chamber.

The lower part of the housing and the sealing plate may be movablymounted to move the container to a position in which the container maybe released from the sealing plate and the housing. Conveniently themachine comprises drawer means on which the housing and container aresupported.

The drive means may comprise a piston and cylinder device operable toengage the plunger with the container at its end remote from the outlet,the piston and cylinder device comprising a multi cylinder arrangementin which the stroke of the piston is greater than the closed length ofthe cylinder.

The machine may comprise two or more of said deformable containers eachassociated with sealing means and drive means, and the containerscommunicating with a common discharge nozzle whereby product from eachcontainer may be discharged through said nozzle. In this arrangement thenozzle may be formed by nozzle means communicating with each containerand having valve means wherein product from either container or bothcontainers is dischargeable through the common nozzle.

Conveniently the drive means is located displaced to the side of theaxis of the or each container and with its axis of movement parallel tosaid container axis, the plunger being connected to the drive means by alinkage.

The sealing means may carry removable gasket means which is interposedbetween the sealing means and the product to prevent contact between theproduct and the sealing means.

According to another aspect of the invention a dispensing machinecomprises at least one deformable container for product, a plungerarranged to engage one end of the container and the container having anopening at the other end for discharge of the product from the containerupon operation of the plunger, sealing means for the opening, a housingpart for the container whereby the container is releasably mounted inthe machine, the housing part being attached to the sealing means, and amachine frame supporting the housing part in a generally horizontalposition so that the housing part is movable relative to the frame, thehousing part being movable between operative and inoperative positionssupporting the container and the container being releasable from thehousing part and the sealing means when in the inoperative position.Preferably the housing part is slidably mounted in the frame to bemovable generally horizontally between said positions to expose thecontainer for release when in said inoperative position.

According to a further aspect of the invention a container for thedispensing machine of the invention comprises a container body which isdeformable in its lengthwise direction, an end wall at one end of thebody, an open end at the other end of the body, the open end being ofsubstantially the same cross-sectional dimensions as the cross-sectionaldimensions of the body, the end wall being arranged to be engaged by aplunger and the open end being arranged in use to receive sealing andabutment means with an outlet opening whereby when the plunger engagessaid end wall the body deforms in its lengthwise direction to reduce theinternal volume of the container, and product within the container isdischarged through said outlet. Conveniently the open end of thecontainer is formed with an outer surface engageable by securing meansto seal said end against said sealing and abutment means.

Further features of the invention will appear from the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention given by way of exampleonly and with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a container for the dispensing machine,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a dispensing machine in which thecontainer of FIG. 1 is employed,

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of part of the machine of FIG. 2,

FIG. 3 is an end view of the container of FIG. 1 in the direction ofarrow 3 showing a clamp arrangement,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the machine of FIG. 2, partly in section, and

FIG. 4A is a section through a gasket for use in the machine of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to FIG. 1 there is shown acontainer 10 for use with the dispensing machine. The container 10 isgenerally cylindrical having a side wall 12 formed with corrugations 13.At one end of the container 10 is an end wall 14 over the central regionof which is formed a depression 15 shaped to receive a plunger (to bedescribed) or the depression 15 may be formed by engagement of theplunger with the end wall 14.

At the opposite end of the container 10 to the end wall 14 the containeris open and has a short cylindrical portion 16 forming a continuation ofthe side wall 12 and having a diameter substantially the same as theoutermost diameter of the corrugations 13. Alternatively the cylindricalportion 16 has the diameter of the innermost size of the corrugations 13or may be of a size intermediate the inner and outer diameters of thecorrugations.

Although the container is shown and described as cylindrical it may beof other shapes. For example the container may be of rectangular crosssection over most of its length, a smaller dimension being vertical andthe larger horizontal. At one end, the open end of the container, acylindrical portion may be formed for location with a sealing plate, tobe described. Alternatively the container may be of rectangular sectionat the open end, with the corners radiused at the open end and along thesides of the container.

It will be seen that the container 10 is capable of being shortened inits axial direction by deformation of the corrugations 13 in the mannerof a bellows or concertina. Thus if the end portion 16 of the containeris held and pressure is applied on the end wall 14 the container 10 willshorten and its internal volume will be reduced.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the container 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in usein a dispensing machine. In this case the dispensing machine is arrangedto receive two containers 10 but the machine can be arranged to dispenseproduct from only one container or several containers and the containeror containers may be vertical. In the illustrated arrangement thecontainers 10 and their associated parts duplicate one another.

The containers 10 are each located in the machine with a plunger 17 atone end, the plunger having a projecting portion 18 which is received inthe depression 15 and the plunger over its remaining part having anexternal diameter approximating to or exceeding the maximum externaldiameter of the container 10. As shown the head of the plunger is flatbut it may be convex or domed outwardly towards the container.

At the opposite end of each container 10 is located a sealing plate 20,the sealing plate having an external diameter slightly less than theinternal diameter of the cylindrical portion 16 at one end of thecontainer 10 whereby the sealing plate 20 is locatable within thecylindrical portion 16. As will be described, in use, the sealing plate20 is clamped to the container by clamping means. The sealing plate 20may be concavely shaped on its inner surface to correspond to the shapeof the plunger 17. When the container is generally rectangular with arectangular open end the sealing plate is correspondingly shaped.

The sealing plate 20 is formed with an outlet opening 21 which islocated to one side of the plate 20 over a central region of the plate.The outlet opening 21 of each plate 20 leads to a valve block 22 whichis releasably mounted on each of the adjacent sealing plates 20 by meansof locating members 23 which are easily released to remove the block 22when cleaning is required. Alternatively a separate valve block isprovided for each container and the outlet may be located centrally ofthe container. Moreover two or more outlets may be provided in thesealing plate each having a control valve to control discharge.

The valve block includes conduits communicating with the outlet openings21 to a selection of three discharge nozzles 24A, 24B and 24C. Of thedischarge nozzles 24 a central nozzle 24B communicates with the outletopenings 21 of both containers. The other two discharge nozzles 24A and24C communicate with the adjacent containers and the central nozzle 24B.Each of the discharge nozzles is associated with a discharge valve 25and each valve 25 has a valve member 26 capable of being moved between aclosed position, a diverting position or an open position in which thenozzle 24A or 24C associated with the valve 25 is closed to the interiorof the container 10, admits product from the container outlet 21 todischarge through the associated nozzle 24, or diverts product to thecentral nozzle 24B. Each valve 25 includes a piston and cylinder 27arranged to move the valve member 26 between the open and closedpositions. Each piston and cylinder 27 is independently operable and itwill be seen that with the valve member 26 of the central nozzle 24Bclosed, product may be discharged from either one or both of the twocontainers through the associated nozzle 24A or 24C. Alternatively withthe valves 25 in positions to divert product from the containers 10 andthe central valve 25 open, product from each container can be dischargedfrom a common central nozzle 24B. Alternatively individual nozzles foreach container and an associated discharge valve 25 may be provided.

The containers 10 are each located in housings which comprise a lowersemi-cylindrical base member 28 located horizontally and an uppersemi-cylindrical member 29 mounted over the respective container 20. Themember 29 is divided along its median line to receive a drive 30 to theplunger 17.

The machine also includes a framework 31 securing drive means 32 for thecontainers and a locking mechanism 33 for retaining the sealing plates20 in position. The framework 31 also provides a support for thesemi-cylindrical base 28 which is slidably removable from the machine ina horizontal direction, as will be described, relative to the framework31.

The framework carries a hydraulic piston and cylinder device 34 of thedrive means 32, a cylinder 35 of the device 34 being fixedly attached tothe framework 31 and a piston rod 36 being attached to a slide 37 whichis slidably movable along guide rods 38. The slide 37 is secured througha connection 30 to a plunger 17 for each container. The guide rods 38are attached at opposite ends to the framework 31. Further guide rods(not shown) may be provided to support the plunger 17 at the lower endof the plunger.

It will be seen that upon extension of the piston and cylinder device 34the plunger 17 will move in a discharge direction towards the sealingplate 20, thereby deforming the container 10 and reducing its internalvolume. Upon completion of a discharge stroke of the plunger 17 thepiston and cylinder device 34 is retracted to return the plunger 17 toits initial position. The emptied container 10 can then be removed, aswill be described.

It is preferred to use a hydraulically operated piston and cylinderdevice 34 which has double or triple acting pistons whereby a relativelyshort overall length can accommodate a relatively long stroke of thepiston rod 36. Moreover the use of a hydraulically operated device willenable accurate movement of the piston in the cylinder and the extensionof the piston and cylinder can be monitored and the pressure in thecylinder can be adjusted and controlled. For example the pressure may beincreased and decreased according to the position of the plunger 17along its path of travel or according to the product within thecontainer 10. Moreover the pressure applied by one plunger may bedifferent to the pressure applied by the other plunger.

The device 34 may have positional detection means (not shown) wherebythe position of the plunger 17 is known and the pressure applied to thedevice may be determined according to the position of the plungergiving, for example, the opportunity to increase or decrease thepressure to give the same discharge rate of product over the full strokeof the plunger. Pressure may be changed by increasing or decreasing therate at which the pump powering the device 34 is operated in accordancewith signals received from the positional detection means.

Similarly the pressure at the plunger 17 may be changed according to thenature of the product in the or each container 10 so that differentproducts in each container 10 may have the same or different dischargerates. In this case flow rate detection means (not shown) may beprovided to detect the rate of flow of product from the or eachcontainer and the pressure may be adjusted according to the rate of flowor a predetermined rate of flow of product.

Alternatively or in addition the pressure at the plunger 17 may beadjustable by the operator according to information received by theoperator.

In one arrangement pressure relief is provided on the container whendispensing is not taking place. Thus, for example, when a predeterminedtime elapses after a dispensing operation, pressure at the plunger isreduced to a low level or to zero. Alternatively or in addition theplunger may be withdrawn a short distance from the container to releasepressure on the container. The hydraulic piston and cylinder can bereplaced by other drive means for the plunger such as pneumatic means oran electrically driven motor.

Each container 10, its associated semi-cylindrical base 28, itsassociated sealing plate 20 and the valve block 22 are all slidablyarranged with respect to the framework 31 to enable the container to bemoved slidably in a generally horizontal direction, as shown by chainlines in FIG. 2, to enable containers to be exchanged when necessary.For this purpose the semi-cylindrical base 28 is slidably supported onthe framework 31 in the manner of a drawer.

The machine has an insulated outer casing 39 defining a closed chamber40 which may be kept at the desired temperature for the product withinthe containers 10. Generally it is required that the product be kept ata predetermined low temperature so the machine will incorporaterefrigeration means 41. Part of the outer casing 39A is associated withthe respective container 10 so that it is movable, when the containerneeds to be renewed, with the container 10 the base 28 of the housingand associated parts.

The machine also accommodates a source of hydraulic power 42 for thepiston and cylinder device 34. If required the upper end of the machinecarries a display arrangement 43 including a light box 44 on which thename of the product to be dispensed is illuminated.

It will be appreciated that during dispensing the rear face of thesealing plate 20 will normally be contacted with the product P withinthe container 10. Provided the containers fitted in the machine containthe same product in each replacement container this will not normallyaffect the product quality. However, if desired, a removable gasket 45,see FIG. 4A, can be applied to the face of the plate 20 and the gasketmay be renewed when a fresh container is located in the machine or thegasket may be sanitised and replaced.

In locating containers 10 in the machine the cylindrical locatingportion 16 of each container is a close fit around the outer edge of thesealing plate 20 and to ensure that the container is sealed clampingmeans located around the outside of the portion 16 is provided. Suchclamping means may take the form shown in FIG. 3 comprising a band 46which locates around the portion 16 and includes a locking mechanism 47which tightens the band around the container. Alternatively otherclamping means may be employed such as hydraulically operated clamps(not shown) which engage around the outer surface of the portion 16. Asa further alternative an inflatable tubular ring 50 may be providedextending around the portion 16 and being inflated by air or byhydraulic fluid to engage and clamp the portion against the sealingplate 20 (see FIG. 2A).

The container 10 may contain any suitable food product which is of asolid, semi-solid or viscous constituency such as ice cream, frozenyoghurt or other chilled or frozen confectionery. The container 10 isfilled through its open end in a food processing facility and a suitablecover (not shown) is located over the open end of the container. Thecontainer may be cooled to low temperatures for storage and transportand when it reaches the point of consumption it may be tempered to therequired dispensing temperature in, for example, a tempering cabinet.

When the full container 10 is required to be dispensed it is removedfrom storage and located in the machine housing after removal of itscover. This action is achieved by withdrawing the semi cylindrical base28 with its associated parts on the slide arrangement thereby exposingthe base 28 to the user, the plunger 17 being located in its fullyretracted position. The container 10 is mounted on the base 28 with thelocating portion 16 fitting over the sealing plate 20. The band 46 andlocking mechanism 47 or other clamping system is operated to secure thecontainer to the sealing plate 20 and the base 28 and associated partsare slid back into the operating position in the machine. In theoperating position the movable parts are secured as by the lockingcatches 33 which are secured to the framework 31.

The container 10 is then ready for a dispensing operation and the pistonand cylinder device 34 is operated to extend the plunger 17 and engagethe plunger in the depression 15 in the container 10. The valve orvalves 25 are operated to enable product to be discharged from theappropriate discharge nozzle 24 while the plunger deforms the side wallof the container and causes product P to be discharged through theoutlet opening 21. Discharge of product can be carefully controlled byoperation of the piston and cylinder device 34. Product is dischargedfrom the relevant discharge nozzle 24 into a receptacle (not shown)which may be of any convenient form for receiving the product.

During dispensing the chamber 40 within the outer casing 39 is kept atthe desired dispensing temperature and there may be provided within thechamber 40 fans for circulating cold air and ensuring quickstabilisation of the chamber temperature.

The valve block 22 is readily removable from the machine for cleaningpurposes and access to the valve block is obtained through a hingedopening (not shown) in the part 39A of the casing.

The invention provides a dispensing system utilising a container whichis readily filled with product, which has the facility for multi flavourproduct dispensing, which is relatively simple and compact and is easilyoperated without significant hygiene problems.

I claim:
 1. A dispensing machine for dispensing product from a containerof product, comprisinga deformable container for product, the containerhaving one end and an opposite end, a plunger engageable with said oneend to deform the container, said opposite end having an opening throughwhich product is discharged, movement of the plunger when engaged withsaid one end causing the container to deform and reduce the internalvolume of the container whereby product is extruded from said opening,shut-off valve means controlling discharge of product from thecontainer, an insulated frame, a housing for supporting the containermovably in said frame, said housing having a seating for the container,slide means whereby said housing is slidably mounted on said frame forgenerally horizontal movement relative to the frame between operativeand inoperative positions, said housing extending outwards from theframe when in the inoperative position for removal of said containerfrom said housing and, in the operative position of said housing, saidcontainer and said valve means being located within said insulatedframe, latch means for releasably latching said housing in the operativeposition in said frame, discharge of product from said container takingplace when said housing is in the operative position, and refrigerationmeans for providing a cold environment within the insulated frame. 2.The machine of claim 1 wherein the container has side walls between theends which are deformable during operation of the plunger.
 3. Themachine of claim 1 wherein the container has generally cylindrical sidewalls and the open end has a size approximating to a diameter of thecylinder.
 4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the generally cylindricalside walls of the container are of corrugated form to permit deformationof the side walls in the longitudinal direction of the container.
 5. Themachine of claim 1 wherein the housing encloses the container in use anda longitudinal axis of the container is located generally horizontally.6. The machine of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed with an upperpart and a lower part constituting said seating the container beingseated in use in said seating.
 7. The machine of claim 1 wherein a drivemeans for said plunger comprises a piston and cylinder device operableto engage the plunger with the container.
 8. The machine of claim 1wherein a pressure applied by the plunger to the container is adjustableaccording to a position of the plunger and also according to aconsistency of the product in the container.
 9. The dispensing machineof claim 1 comprising nozzle means associated with said shut-off valveand being mounted for movement with said housing.
 10. The dispensingmachine of claim 1 wherein said deformable container opening is an openopposite end, and said housing includes sealing means engageable withsaid open end, the sealing means defining an outlet openingcommunicating with the shut-off valve means.
 11. The dispensing machineof claim 10 comprising releasable securing means arranged to secure saidsealing means releasably to the open end of the container.
 12. Themachine of to claim 11 wherein the releasable securing means is in theform of a band located around the open end of the container andengageable against a sealing plate.
 13. The machine of claim 10 whereinthe sealing means carries a removable gasket means which is interposedbetween the sealing means and the product to prevent contact between theproduct and the sealing means.
 14. The dispensing machine of claim 1comprising drive means operable to cause said plunger to engage anddeform said container, the drive means comprising a piston and cylinderdevice mounted on said frame.
 15. The machine of claim 14 wherein thedrive means is located above the axis of the container and with its axisof movement parallel to said container axis, the plunger being connectedto the drive means by a linkage.
 16. The dispensing machine of claim 1comprising at least two of said deformable containers each having anassociated said plunger, and a common discharge nozzle communicatingwith the containers whereby product from each container may bedischarged through a nozzle.
 17. The dispensing machine of claim 1comprising a housing part defining an upper enclosure member for saidcontainer when in its operative position, the upper enclosure memberbeing fixed in relation to said housing.
 18. The machine of claim 17wherein a nozzle is formed by nozzle means communicating with saidcontainer and an additional container, said nozzle means having valvemeans wherein product from either container or both containers isdischargeable through said nozzle.
 19. The dispensing machine of claim 1wherein said one end of said container is formed with a recess in whichthe plunger is arranged to be received.
 20. The dispensing machine ofclaim 1 wherein said opposite end defines said opening which hassubstantially the same cross-sectional shape as a side wall of thecontainer.
 21. The container of claim 20 wherein said one end is formedwith a depression in which a head of the plunger is arranged to bereceived.
 22. The dispensing machine of claim 1 wherein said oppositeend of the container is formed with an outer surface of generallycylindrical shape and further comprises securing means engageable withsaid outer surface to seal said opposite end against a sealing meanslocated within said opposite end.